ISN Program for Detection and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease, Hypertension, Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Disease in Developing Countries (KHDC)

The growing burden of chronic kidney diseases is known to renal professionals and increasingly acknowledged by health authorities. The concern is enhanced by the emerging evidence that chronic kidney diseases are not only a problem on their own: they are also a major risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and are a deadly complication of diabetes mellitus.

The predicted increase in the number of patients with end–stage renal diseases in developed countries (where regular renal replacement therapy programs are available) poses the risk that health care resources are inadequate to guarantee full coverage of dialysis expenses. In developing countries, simply put — there is little or no chance at all to offer renal replacement therapy to those in need, now or in the future.

Prevention of kidney diseases and progression toward end-stage phase is key. The International Society of Nephrology is committed to developing global efforts to prevent chronic kidney disease in underprivileged countries.

The initial step is the recognition of the dimension of the problems through tools such as the ISN Program for Detection and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease, Hypertension, Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Disease in Developing Countries (KHDC). This program is intended as a flexible tool to be adapted and shaped according to the social, economic, and geographical characteristics of each country. These KHDC guidelines provide detailed step by step instructions on how to set up a detection and management program; the human and economic resources required; the time frame; as well as sample data collection forms and processes.

Download the guidelines and instructions for the KHDC Program (1,449kb)